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Letters | 8-1-14

Removing coral graffiti truly unsustainable

On a recent drive down to Kona, I observed the noticeable absence of coral graffiti along Queen Kaahumanu Highway. My first reaction was sadness. I didn’t really think I would care all that much, but I really missed viewing, reading and commenting on the sayings hundreds of people have spent the time to create over the years.

After stopping at the Mauna Lani for fresh coral and “writing” a short message, it got me thinking that removing coral from the lava is truly unsustainable. In fact, it reminded me of the Albert Camus essay titled “The Myth of Sisyphus.” From Greek mythology, Sisyphus was condemned to repeat forever the same meaningless task of pushing a boulder up a mountain, only to see it roll down again.

I see a similar situation here. People will remove coral. People will add coral. Repeat. In one year, five years or 50 years, there will be coral graffiti on the lava along Queen Kaahumanu Highway

I am the first to say that people can do whatever they desire; and as long as it is not illegal, I don’t have any objections. In that regard, I conclude; as Camus concludes in his essay, “One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”